These pages share our journey of adoption, parenting, and raising three kiddos with a wide range of special needs. We aren't brave. We aren't amazing. We just don't know if we would be able to handle a typical child.

Pages

Friday, July 21, 2017

These are a few pictures from our vacation that I love. Playing in the sand. Kite flying. Wearing her puddle jumper and goggles despite the fact that she never went anywhere deep enough to need either in the ocean. They're real. They make me smile as I remember how fun it was. How relaxing it felt.

While we were there one night, a family arrived at the beach. All of them were wearing nice clothes. The mother walked into the water, and started posing, as the father took pictures with his phone, while giving instructions of how to turn to get her hair to flow more, and her chin in just the right position. I continued to play with Abigail while taking in the family. They did rehearsed videos of walking and holding hands, acting surprised when a shell was given, and numerous takes of each person to get just the right angle and picture. All on cell phones-so they weren't professional pictures. I have no idea what their reason was. Nor, am I saying that there may not have been a legitimate reason to do this. It just struck me as intriguing as I watched all of the other families capturing pictures as their children ran into the ocean with boogie boards, built sand castles, and looked for shells and creatures on the beach. I couldn't figure out why they would need to work so hard to capture perfect pictures when the beach is an amazing way to make perfect memories. The whole thing has stuck with me.

The past weeks have been filled with appointments. Mostly for Tiny. Although, Big's MRI and oncology follow up for her glioma was in there as well. Overall the appointments weren't horrible. But, we've been bombarded with information. Some suspected. Some a complete surprise. And, as we officially started the process of genetic testing for Tiny today, I recalled all of the times people have said, 'well, he looks normal.' My thoughts skipped to the church we belong to. It's full of people who are a hot mess (spoiler alert, all churches are). But, they're all so willing to share their mess. It's a beautiful image of what the body of Christ is to be. So many places, everyone looks the same. They talk the same. They pepper their language with how great God is. All the time. But, the body isn't made up of parts that have it all together. It's made up of my daughter with an extra chromosome who uses a wheelchair. It's made of people who have been addicted. People who have had abortions. People who hate others. People who need glasses to see clearly. When all those parts connect, and work together, it's just a big jumble of imperfect. There are hard conversations about forgetting to make things accessible for people who use wheelchairs. There are sometimes hurtful things said to one another. Everyone shares in the mess, the same way our physical bodies sometimes have parts that don't work well with others. There are other places like ours. I'm sure of it. There are also lots of places that look like the family at the beach. The ones who say, 'well he looks normal.' As if saying, 'I know we are all imperfect. But, at least we can pass for having it all together.' It's a badge. Only post the great pictures. The uplifting stories. If you share something hard in your life, make sure to follow it with, 'but, I know that God is good.'

But, we want so badly to look normal. Churches. Families. Individuals. We pose. We take the same picture adjusting the angle over and over until we have the ones to post that looks just right.

The truth, we're all broken. When we go to the beach, we get sand in our bathing suits. And, if you live here for long, you are going to experience hard things that make you question things about faith, and God, and those around you. You're going to realize that the people who try the hardest to look 'normal' are just as broken as the one who is noticeably a mess.

We're a mess. Our beach pictures. Our home. Our children's chromosomes. Our faith. And, if sharing our journey, honestly, helps one other person be brave, it's worth it. I have found it's much more fun to just enjoy the beach than to dress up and pose. Sure, there's more sand, and possible sunburn. But, the memories are pretty amazing.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

At the end of October, we took a few day family trip to Brown County state park to play at the indoor water park, and enjoy the outdoors a little. It was our last water hurrah before tiny got casted. I have wanted to thank the many people who helped make it possible for us to go. We were thankful for this time together. It turns out, it had been a long time since we had gotten to just spend time in nature as a family of five. As little has gotten bigger, and still been unable to walk, we've stepped back from some of the things we love doing, like hiking, to find activities that work better for all of us. It was so refreshing to get outside, and even have areas that we could use her wheelchair. The pool was zero entry so both her and tiny could easily play independently. There aren't often places we go as a family where it feels like everyone enjoys the activities, but this was a wonderful rare exception.Of course, we came home, and tiny got casted a few days later. Shilo got sick, and we finally found out that she had a parasite (where or how she got it is unclear). Tiny got sick, and was tested for diabetes. He did not have it, but his blood work was really wonky so we ended up being referred to endocrinology. They did more blood work. More wonkiness. We go this coming week for a more precise test-and hopefully some answers. Big had her follow up MRI and oncology appointment. Her tumor is stable, and we get to wait six months before we have to do it again. Little had an abnormal spinal MRI that we met with neurosurgery about, and we have two more test before we decide what to do with it from here. And, little continues to have severe bowel issues despite the fact that all test point to the parasite being gone. So, as always things have remained exciting in our home.

But, the pictures from our trip are a great way of ending with the fact that our lives, despite the chaos of medical, are often a lot more like others, than not. Thanks again to all those who helped us in many capacities to get to enjoy our few days away!